UTN uW Translation Notes:

Romans 15 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

7. Instructions for living as Christians (12:1–15:13)
   • How to act toward God (12:1–2)
   • How to serve the church (12:3–8)
   • How to act toward other Christians (12:9–13)
   • How to act toward unbelievers (12:14–21)
   • How to act toward government (13:1–7)
   • How to act toward other people (13:8–10)
   • Act as if the end is near (13:11–14)
   • Do not judge other Christians (14:1–12)
   • Do not tempt other Christians to sin (14:13–23)
   • Be united with other Christians (15:1–13)
8. Conclusion (15:14–16:27)
   • Paul describes his mission (15:14–21)
   • Paul’s travel plans (15:22–33)

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with 15:9–11 and 21 of this chapter, which are words from the Old Testament.

Some translations set prose quotations from the Old Testament farther to the right on the page to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the quoted words in 15:12.

Translation Issues in This Chapter

Able and unable

In 15:1–6 Paul concludes his teaching from Chapter 14 about how Christians with different degrees of spiritual maturity should act toward each other. He refers to some Christians as those who are “weak in faith” (14:1) or “unable” (15:1). These phrases describe Christians who have immature faith and feel guilty about doing certain things that God did not forbid. By contrast, he refers to spiritually mature Christians as those who are “able” (15:1). Paul teaches that those who are strong in faith need to help those who are weak in faith and neither should judge the other. (See: faith)

Translation Issues in This Chapter

Forms of ‘You’

In this chapter, with three exceptions, the words “you” and “your” are plural and refer to Paul’s Christian readers, whom he calls “brothers” in 15:14 and 15:30. Notes will discuss the use of singular forms of “you” and “your” in 15:3 and 15:9. (See: figs-yousingular)

Inclusive language

In this chapter the pronouns “we,” “us,” “our,” and “ourselves” refer inclusively to Paul’s Christian readers. Paul calls these people “brothers” in 15:14 and 15:30. Your language may require you to mark these forms. (See: figs-exclusive)